Blueprint board asks staff to study using surtax funds to supplement funding for Fire Stations 15 and 17

The Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency on Sept. 30 voted to have staff return with an analysis of whether the agency could supplement funding for proposed Fire Stations 15 (Lake Bradford area) and 17. Commissioner Corey Caban moved the item and Commissioner Lance Matlow seconded the motion; it carried on a weighted roll call vote. The motion asks staff to examine options, including whether excess surtax revenue or newly available bonds could be applied to those station projects.

Supporters said the analysis could help resolve a multi-year impasse between the city and county over fire services funding and might identify ways to accelerate construction that supporters argue is now delayed. Commissioner Matlow said the county previously offered to fully fund the stations and equipment earlier this year and that “safety is at risk in our community,” urging conversations to honor interlocal compromises. Commissioner Cummings said an agenda item would create a forum for staff to outline impacts and for the public to weigh in.

Opponents argued that Blueprint’s projects and revenues are already allocated and that the 1% infrastructure surtax’s public commitments and past ballots did not contemplate funding new fire-station construction. Commissioner Diane Williams Cox said, “I did not vote for blueprint to build fire station,” and urged the use of the existing fire services fee or other mechanisms instead. Director Autumn Calder told the board that, statutorily, the surtax can be used for fire-station construction but that adding a new project would require a substantial amendment to Blueprint’s plan, two public hearings and supermajority approval by the city and county commissions; she also said current revenues have been allocated to existing projects.

After discussion about timing and process, the board took a roll call vote on the motion. The recorded votes were: Aye — Commissioners Matlow, Porter, Caban, Cummings, Maddox, Proctor and Welch; No — Mayor Daley, Commissioner Richardson, Commissioner Williams Cox, Commissioner Minor and Commissioner O’Keefe. Because the Blueprint board uses a weighted voting system, staff announced the motion passed according to weighted vote rules. Staff will return with a written agenda item at the next IA meeting presenting the prioritization, potential funding sources, and the procedural steps needed to initiate a substantial amendment if the board chooses that path.